Community Arts Groups To Benefit From Council Funding
Nine community arts groups and a touring community arts scheme are to benefit from grants totalling almost £140,000 from Derbyshire County Council.
All 10 groups work in the community bringing arts, performances, creative activities, music and workshops to a range of people across the county.
Last year more than 143,000 people benefited from the work by the groups including children in care, learning disabled and disabled people of all ages, people at risk of rural isolation or without transport, those on low incomes and residents living in care homes.
Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture and Tourism Councillor Barry Lewis said: “We’re delighted to be able to support these valuable arts groups for the coming year and recognise the enormous benefits they bring to a wide range of people in our communities.
“It can be difficult for many people to access arts and culture, music, film and live performances because of where they live or their circumstances, but these groups make it possible and open up new opportunities to thousands of people.”
One of the biggest grants - £24,925 - is to go to Level in Rowsley, which works with learning disabled people and offers them the opportunity to try a range of new, creative activities.
The sessions encourage self-expression and interaction with other people and help those taking part to develop confidence and self-esteem.
Level specialises in digital arts and runs the only purpose-built arts centre for learning disabled people in the country.
Councillor Lewis visited Level and spent some time with people who use the centre.
He said: “I’ve really enjoyed seeing the valuable work done by Level to develop the creativity of people with learning disabilities and I am delighted that the county council grant will help them to continue doing it.”
The other groups/organisations receiving arts grants are:
• Fleet Arts – based in Belper and working across Amber Valley and mid-Derbyshire, with its Turn It Up project covering the county - £18,006
• High Peak Community Arts – based in New Mills, working across the High Peak - £18,006
• Junction Arts – based in Chesterfield, working across Chesterfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire - £15,200
• Learning through Arts – based in Wirksworth, working across the whole of Derbyshire - £16,028
• People Express – based in Swadlincote, working across South Derbyshire - £16,323
• Wash Arts – based in Ilkeston, working across Erewash - £3,642
• Orchestras Live – based in London, working across England including Derbyshire - £6,377
• Buxton International Festival – centred on Buxton with community outreach work covering the whole of Derbyshire - £5,723
• Live & Local – programme covers the whole of Derbyshire - £13,582.
Fleet Arts is also receiving one of the highest grants. It is a participatory arts organisation which responds to requests from local groups and agencies to develop arts projects, prioritising work with people who are socially excluded or disadvantaged, especially disabled people, people on low incomes and people experiencing rural isolation.
High Peak Community Arts is a multimedia and community arts outreach organisation, focusing on people who have least access to arts and culture, and benefiting some of the most hard to reach and isolated residents and groups in the community.
Live and Local is a rural and community touring scheme which was set up in Derbyshire in 2002 to deliver high quality, professional arts performances in village halls and other community venues.
Pictured at Level are: (left to right) Derbyshire County Council head of arts Ann Wright, Level director Andrew Williams, artist Andrew Wallace-Hitchcock (seated), Derbyshire County Council Leader Cllr Barry Lewis, artist Howard Barton and Level visual arts programme manager Andrea Leigh.
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